Lakeland, Fla. — If you look at his stat line, you will miss the gains top outfield prospect Max Clark made during his first big-league camp.
“The way he is hungry to be better is really encouraging,” said manager AJ Hinch, who on Monday sent Clark and three other position players out of camp. “I know production-wise he was disappointed with his overall performance, but this was a great stepping stone for him to being a more well-rounded player.”
Clark, who went 2 for 18 with five strikeouts in nine spring games, was reassigned to minor-league camp. Infielder Hao-Yu Lee and catcher-first baseman Eduardo Valencia were optioned to Triple-A Toledo. Catcher Thayron Liranzo was optioned to Double-A Erie.
“For Max, he basically would be sitting around waiting for one at-bat at the end of games,” Hinch said. “The playing time has dried up a little bit, and it’s time for him to go get into his routine and take some things he learned in this camp and go apply it day to day in his work.”
As the camp winds down, the Tigers’ regular players are going to start playing seven innings, which takes away time Clark and other young players could play. Also, infielders Javier Báez and Zach McKinstry are going to start taking reps in the outfield.
“I think Max learned a lot in this camp and I think he grew a lot in this camp,” Hinch said. “I love Max Clark and I love the way he goes about his work. He is obsessed with baseball and getting better.”
Hinch said he and Clark were texting back and forth Sunday night talking about different scenarios that came up during the WBC games.
“He is a continual learner,” Hinch said. “For him, this experience was all the way around more positive than not.”
Of the four who were sent out Monday, Valencia likely will continue to play somewhat regularly in the spring games. Right now, should Tomas Nido get a Major League offer from another team, Valencia would be the third catcher.
“We need to continue to get him comfortable with our pitchers,” Hinch said. “He’s going to play more. He will be in Fort Myers (for games Tuesday and Wednesday). He needs to catch a little bit more.”
Because of the way the games have gone this spring, his ability to control the running game has not been tested.
“His understanding of the position and his receiving are fine,” Hinch said.
Lee came back to Lakeland on Sunday after being removed from the Chinese-Taipei team because of an oblique injury.
“He’s still being evaluated,” Hinch said. “But I don’t expect it to be an extended period of time. This was a scare. It’s something we are monitoring to make sure we don’t restart him too fast. But he’s not feeling the symptoms that he felt.
“But he’s not doing baseball activities just yet.”
Liranzo made the most of his second big-league camp. He produced a double, homer and three RBIs in limited at-bats and with a much leaner body, made strides behind the plate.
“There are some small, subtle things in all aspects of his catching that he needs to continue to grow,” Hinch said. “But he got on the (40-man) roster and he’s one step closer to getting to the big leagues…His overall game has taken a step forward.”
Around the horn
Ty Madden, who already has been optioned to Toledo, will start the game against the Red Sox in Fort Myers on Tuesday. Drew Anderson will be the bulk reliever Wednesday against the Twins, also in Fort Myers.
… Jack Flaherty, who would have been on turn to start Tuesday, will pitch in a simulated game at Joker Marchant Stadium instead. Tyler Holton, Brenan Hanifee and Beau Brieske also will pitch. There will be minor league umpires working the game and also some players from minor-league camp playing to fill out the teams. Several of the Tigers regulars will stay back in hit, including Báez, McKinstry and Kerry Carpenter.
… Justin Verlander’s next start will be Thursday in Lakeland. Casey Mize will start Friday night in Bradenton against the Pirates.
Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Max Clark among latest round of Tigers’ cuts: ‘He grew a lot’
Reporting by Chris McCosky, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
